The establishment of rabbit carotid artery stenosis animal model

Objective To establish rabbit carotid artery stenosis animal model, evaluate the feasibility by pathology.Methods 30 New Zealand White rabbits were randomized into two groups,4 weeks group and 8 weeks group. All rabbits were fed a diet of 1.5% cholesterol till the experimental endpoint.After 1 week.All animal's right external carotid artery (RECA) were injuried by nitrogen gas(150ml/min×15min). Used the left external carotid artery (LECA) as own control group.Pathology was used to evaluate the stenosis of carotid arteries at 4- weeks and 8- weeks groups. Results The total serum cholesterol(TC)and low density lipoprotein(LDL-C) level were higher than pro-feeding time(P0.05). 4- week group,pathological studies suggested that the lesions fell into the fatty streak and fibrous plaque period of the early atheromatosis, focal arterial wall thickening was present.Lumens showed light-stenosis.Fed for 8- weeks, the lesions were belong to the mature fibrous plaque-atheromatous plaque period.The entire arterial wall thickening was present.Remarkable lumens stenosis were observed. There were 5 total occluded arteries.No(P0.01) artherosc lerosis and stenosis were seen in the blank and own control groups.Conclusions The model of Rabbit carotid artery stenosis can be effective established by nitrogen gas injury and high cholesterol-feeding. The atherosclerotic lesions getting more and more severe as the feeding time went on.